JP2000055271A - Pipe joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily attach/detach pipes an to enhance the connecting strength by pushing in a collar from a counter ball bearing side via an elastic member and by engaging it to the end of the other pipe. SOLUTION: When a joint structure is formed, the end 4 of one pipe 2 and a ball bearing 10 are internally inserted in the end 5 of a pipe 3 and a fixture 14 is moved to the pipe 3 side. The tapered part 15 of a collar 12 is pushed in the ball bearing 10 via a spring 13. The ball 9 is thus displaced toward the inner surface 11 of the end 5 by this pushing. The engagement 16 of the fixture 14 is engaged in the groove 7 provided in the end 5 of the pipe 3. When the joint structure is released, the engagement between the fixture and the end 5 is released so that the fixture 14 is moved to the counter ball bearing side by the energization of the spring 13 and the joint structure can be easily released.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe joint for inserting one end of a pipe into the end of the other pipe, and for example, relates to a heat exchanger for a vehicle mounted in an engine room of an automobile. The present invention relates to an optimal pipe joint used for a connection portion between an inlet / outlet side pipe and an external side pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pipe joint, an annular seal member (for example, an O-ring) is mounted on an outer surface of an end of one pipe, and the end of one pipe is connected to the end of the other pipe. A well-known structure in which air-tightness or liquid-tightness is ensured by interpolating and interposing a seal member between both pipes is well known.

In the above-described pipe joint, the joint structure of both pipes is formed by pushing the end of one pipe into the end of the other pipe, and the end of one pipe is connected to the other. By pulling out from the end of the pipe, the joint structure of both pipes is released.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned joint structure for piping is used to connect the inlet / outlet piping and the external piping of a heat exchanger for a vehicle installed in a narrow space such as an engine room of the vehicle. If it is used for the connection part, there is a possibility that the attachment / detachment work becomes difficult. In addition, there is a possibility that a sufficient connection strength cannot be ensured against vibrations caused by running of the automobile or the like, and the sealing property may be deteriorated.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, various proposals have been made (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-277776), but they are not satisfactory.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pipe joint which can be easily attached and detached, has improved connection strength, and can exhibit excellent sealing properties.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a pipe joint according to the present invention has an end portion of one pipe inserted into an end portion of the other pipe, and an annular seal member is provided between the two pipes. In the interposed pipe joint, around the one pipe, a ball bearing inserted into the other pipe and holding a radially movable exposed ball, and inserted into the ball bearing, A collar for displacing the ball radially outward toward the inner surface of the other pipe, an elastic member for urging the collar in a direction of insertion into the ball bearing, and a reaction between the collar via the elastic member; And a fitting which is pushed in from the ball bearing side and is engaged with the end of the other pipe.

It is desirable that the other end of the other pipe is formed in an expanded section.

It is desirable that a flange is formed on the one pipe so as to restrict a pushing allowance of a ball bearing pushed into the one pipe by the fitting. However, when the expanded portion is formed at the end of the other pipe, the flange can be omitted.

[0010] The engagement between the end of the other pipe and the fitting may be provided, for example, by providing a groove or a slit on the outer surface of the end of the other pipe and engaging the fitting with the groove or the slit. It can be easily realized by providing the engaging portion.

It is desirable that the groove or the slit extends in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the end of the other pipe. The groove may be provided over the entire outer surface, or may be a plurality of divided grooves. Although the number of the slits may be one, it is preferable that a plurality of slits are provided.

Further, it is desirable that a guide groove or a guide slit for guiding an engaging portion of a fitting that engages with the groove or the slit is connected to the groove or the slit.

The piping joint of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in connecting the inlet / outlet piping and the external piping of a heat exchanger for automobiles. Therefore, the pipe can be a refrigerant pipe.

In the above-described pipe joint, when a joint structure is formed, a ball bearing is inserted into the end of the other pipe, and the fitting is moved to the other pipe side. The collar is pushed into the ball bearing via a spring). The pushing causes the exposed ball of the ball bearing to be displaced radially outward toward the inner surface of the other pipe. Then, the fitting is engaged with the end of the other pipe to form a connection structure between the two pipes.
In this state, the collar is urged by the elastic member in the direction of insertion into the ball bearing, and the exposed ball of the ball bearing is urged toward the inner surface of the other pipe. Abut on the inner surface of another pipe. Therefore, a strong joint structure is formed in combination with the engagement between the fitting and the end of the other pipe and the contact between the exposed ball and the inner surface of the other pipe. Can be improved. Further, when releasing the joint structure, when the engagement between the fitting and the end of the other pipe is released, the force that urges the exposed ball of the ball bearing toward the inner surface of the other pipe is released. At the same time, the fitting is moved to the side opposite to the ball bearing by the biasing force of the elastic member spring, so that the joint structure of both pipes can be easily released.

If one of the pipes is provided with a flange for restricting the allowance of the ball bearing to be pushed into the other pipe by the fitting, the connection between the two pipes can be performed more easily. If the end of the other pipe is formed in an expanded portion and a ball bearing is pushed into the expanded portion, the function of the flange can be imparted to the expanded portion. Is also possible.

Further, the engagement between the end of the other pipe and the fitting may be, for example, forming a groove or a slit on the outer surface of the end of the other pipe and engaging the fitting with the groove or the slit. This can be easily realized by providing a unit.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a pipe joint according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show a piping joint according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a pipe joint. The pipe joint 1 has a sealing property by inserting the end 4 of one pipe 2 into the end 5 of the other pipe 3 and interposing an O-ring 18 as an annular seal member between the two pipes 2 and 3. Is secured. In the present embodiment, the other pipe 3 is an inlet / outlet pipe of an evaporator (not shown) of the vehicle air conditioner, and the one pipe 2 is an external pipe connected to the other pipe 3. I have. The refrigerant flows through the two pipes 2 and 3.

The end 5 of the other pipe 3 is formed as an expanded section as shown in FIG. A groove 7 is provided on the outer surface 6 of the end 5 of the other pipe 3, and the groove 7 is
Extends over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. A guide groove 8 is connected to the groove 7.

Around a pipe 2, a ball bearing 10 inserted into the other pipe 3 and holding a radially movable exposed ball 9 is inserted into the ball bearing 10, and the ball 9 is inserted into the other. A collar 12 for displacing radially toward an inner surface 11 of the end 5 of the pipe, a spring 13 as an elastic member for urging the collar 12 in a direction of insertion into the ball bearing 10, and via the spring 13 Color 12
And a fitting 14 which is pushed in from the side opposite to the ball bearing and is engaged with the end 5 of the other pipe 3. As the elastic member, an elastic member such as a rubber material can be used in addition to the spring.

A flange 17 is provided on one of the pipes 2, and the flange 17 allows the one pipe 2 to be inserted into the end 5 of the other pipe 3, and an end of the other pipe 3. The pushing allowance of the ball bearing 10 pushed into the portion 5 is regulated.

The collar 12 has a tapered portion 15,
When the tapered portion 15 is inserted into the ball bearing 10, the ball 9 is displaced radially outward toward the inner surface 11.

The fitting 14 is provided with an engaging portion 16. The engaging portion 16 engages with the groove 7 provided at the end 5 of the other pipe 3, so that the fitting 14 is formed. The other pipe 3 is engaged with the end 5. Note that the attachment 14 and the collar 12 can be easily made of metal, resin, or the like.

In the pipe joint 1 of this embodiment, when a joint structure is formed, the end 4 of one pipe 2 and the ball bearing 10 are inserted into the end 5 of the other pipe 3 and the fitting is mounted. 14 is moved toward the other pipe 3 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1).
5 is pushed into the ball bearing 10. By the pushing, the ball 9 is directed radially outward, that is,
Displaced toward the inner surface 11 of the end 5 of the other pipe 3.
Then, the fitting 14 is engaged with the end 5 of the other pipe 3. In this state, since the collar 12 is urged in the insertion direction into the ball bearing 10 by the urging force of the spring 13, the exposed ball 9 of the ball bearing 10 is
Surely comes into contact with the inner surface 11 of the end 5 of the other pipe 3.
For this reason, a strong joint structure can be easily formed in combination with the engagement between the fitting 14 and the end 5 of the other pipe 3 and the contact between the exposed ball 9 and the inner surface 11. And the durability can be improved, and excellent sealing performance can be secured.

When releasing the above joint structure,
When the engagement between the fitting and the end 5 of the other pipe 3 is released,
The force that has urged the exposed ball 9 toward the inner surface 11 of the end 5 of the other pipe 3 is released, and the urging force of the spring 13 causes the mounting member 14 to move away from the ball bearing side (the opposite arrow in FIG. 1). Direction), the joint structure can be easily released.

In this embodiment, the color 12
Is formed in the tapered portion 15 having a tapered end, so that the collar 12 can be easily inserted into and out of the ball bearing 10.

In this embodiment, since the guide groove 8 communicates with the groove 7, the engaging portion 16 of the fixture 14 is engaged with the guide groove 8, and the fixture 14 is moved in the circumferential direction. When rotated, the engaging portion 16 is guided into the groove 7 by the guide groove 8, so that the fitting 16 can be easily engaged with the end 5 of the other pipe 3.

FIG. 3 shows a pipe joint according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of grooves 21 extending in the circumferential direction are provided on the outer surface of the end portion 20 of the other pipe 19. A guide groove 22 extending in the axial direction communicates with the groove 21. Also, one pipe 2
A projection 25 is provided on the inner surface of the third attachment 24 as an engagement portion capable of engaging with the groove 21. In this embodiment, after the projection 25 of the fixture 24 is inserted into the guide groove 22, the fixture 24 is pushed into the other pipe 19, and the fixture 24 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The tool 24 is adapted to be engaged with the end 20 of the other pipe 19.

In this embodiment, similarly to the above embodiment, an elastic member (spring), a collar, a ball bearing, a flange, and an O-ring are provided around one of the pipes 23 in this order from the attachment 24 side. However, in FIG. 3, the description is omitted.

Also in this embodiment, according to the operation of the above embodiment, it is possible to improve the connection strength and exhibit excellent sealing properties while improving the ease of attachment and detachment.

[0030]

As described above, the pipe joint of the present invention can be easily attached and detached even in a limited space such as in an engine room of an automobile, and greatly improves the connection strength. , Excellent sealing performance can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a piping joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the piping joint of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a pipe joint according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pipe joint 2,23 One pipe 3,19 The other pipe 4,5,20 End part 6 Outer surface 7,21 Groove 8,22 Guide groove 9 Exposed ball 10 Ball bearing 11 Inner surface 12 Collar 13 Spring as an elastic member 14, 24 Mounting tool 15 Taper portion 16 Engagement portion 17 Flange 18 O-ring 25 Projection

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3J106 AB01 BA01 BB01 BC04 BD01 BE23 BE29 CA01 EA03 EB02 EC02 EC07 ED24 ED26 EE01 EF04 EF05

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A pipe joint in which an end of one pipe is inserted into an end of the other pipe, and an annular seal member is interposed between the two pipes. And a ball bearing holding an exposed ball that can move in the radial direction, and inserted into the ball bearing,
A collar for displacing the ball of the bearing radially outward toward the inner surface of the other pipe, an elastic member for urging the collar in a direction of insertion into the ball bearing, and the elastic member; A fitting for pushing the collar from the ball bearing side and engaging with an end of the other pipe. 2. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein an end of said other pipe is formed in an expanded portion. 3. The joint according to claim 1, wherein said one pipe is provided with a flange for restricting a pushing allowance of a ball bearing pushed into said other pipe by said fitting. 4. A groove or a slit is formed on an outer surface of an end of the other pipe, and an engaging portion capable of engaging with the groove or the slit is provided on the attachment.
4. The joint for piping according to any one of claims 3 to 3. 5. The pipe joint according to claim 4, wherein said groove or slit extends in a circumferential direction on an outer surface of an end of said other pipe. 6. A guide groove or a guide slit for guiding an engaging portion of the mounting tool is connected to the groove.
Or the joint for piping of 5. 7. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the pipes are refrigerant pipes.